The Defence Ministry today warned of legal action if information on national defence purportedly contained in a newly published book has been gleaned from classified documents.

NONE Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the ministry was studying the contents of the book published by the human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

"If the contents are from information we have released officially, they can be allowed as reading material for the public.

"But if the contents have been extracted from classified documents, action will be taken subject to the OSA (Official Secrets Act) and other laws," he said.

Ahmad Zahid declined to reveal details of the book, saying he did not want to give publicity to the book and its author.

However it is believed the book is entitled Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia: From Altantuya to Zikorsky , authored by the NGO's director Kua Kia Soong.

- Bernama